76-14-B3
- Main Page \ Reagan Radio Commentaries \ 1977
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Soviet Workers[edit]
Transcript[edit]Not too long ago a news item appeared in a few papers that you might have missed. There has been no follow up on it which is puzzling because it was an unusual story with a headline that read; "Discontented Soviet Workers Clamor for Right to Emigrate". Now I know we are all aware that some of Russia's scientists and intellectuals have dared to criticize the Kremlin and some have been allowed to leave. No question but that they have shown great courage, and I don't mean to detract from their heroism when I point out that they have a certain following, world-wide public opinion on their side and, therefore, possibly some protection against retaliation. But when a working stiff known only to his family and a few neighbors stands up and says, "How do you transfer out of this chicken outfit", that's news. According to the article, a growing number of Soviet wage earners are asking out. Letters have begun reaching people out here in the free world, and Soviet dissidents have passed the word that tens of thousands of workers in the USSR are more than a little discontented. One remarkable letter which reached the West was from a shipyard worker. I'm a little surprised and concerned that the story gave his name and where he worked. I keep hoping that maybe he used an alias because his letter could put him in the Gulag for a long time. Anyway, he asked for international support to help him emigrate to Canada, Australia or the United States. Married, with six children, he officially requested the right to leave the Soviet Union more than a year ago, but has received no answer. His reasons for wanting to leave should strike a responsive chord in the heart of any one of us. He says it is impossible to live on his monthly income of 194 rubles and he explodes the Soviet fairy tale that they have no inflation. According to him, retail prices have risen substantially. Fruits and vegetables have doubled in price, increases for meat, eggs and lard have been about 40% and wages have not kept pace with prices. He is explicit about working conditions, too. Frequent revision in production norms and pay scales make it hard to earn more than five or six rubles a day. Operating methods are obsolete and proper tools are in such short supply he bought his own. He writes, "That's the way they attempt to draw the maximum out of the worker while paying him the least possible". Then his letter takes on the social services which are supposed to be those free goodies available to all in the "worker's paradise". Copies of his letter should go to some of our Congressmen who are trying to get us to go for socialized medicine. "Ambulances don't come when they are called", he writes. He goes on to say, "Doctors are indifferent to their patients, and in the hospitals the treatment is bad, the food is bad." Well, of course, that last one -- hospital food -- is a kind of universal complaint and no one has ever come up with an answer other than to stay well. But seriously, there is a great significance to this letter and what it might be telling us. The Soviet Union is building the most massive military machine the world has ever seen and is denying its people all kinds of consumer products to do so. We could have an unexpected ally if citizen Ivan is becoming discontented enough to start talking back. Maybe we should drop a few million typical mail order catalogues on Minsk and Pinsk and Moscow to whet their appetite. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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